BOTTOM LEFT TO RIGHT
LANDS END TO N.FORELAND POINT

Distance Cycled on route: 35.02 miles
Distance Cycled today: 54.4 miles
Elapsed Time: 3h 7m
Cycling Time: 2h 58m
Average Speed: 11.7mph

So here we go again as the train runs down the coast towards Dawlish and holidaymakers head for the amusement arcades as the grey skies threaten drizzle. No change there then.

Starting point for this trip is Land's End, last visited on the great epic to John O'Groats 4 years ago. Loads more similarities to that trip too....the British Lions have just lost again and with it the series, and Australia were putting England to the sword at Lords last time I heard (before all radio reception was lost at Exeter as civilisation was left behind). As before Wimbledon is on and the Tour de France starts today. Deja vu (or something similar)?

The trip will take me 500 miles along the south coast to the bottom right hand corner at the North Foreland Point between Broadstairs and Margate.

I was initially touched by people asking to be sent the daily progress reports - although it subsequently turned out that no matter how bad a day they were having, I was having a worse one.

I seem to be the only person not able to watch the Live-8 concerts today - please don't tell Bob Geldof or else I'll be in deep trouble.

BEEN HERE DONE THIS: The bike returns to Lands End, sporting array of new components at great expense

The bike hasn't changed, but in a frantic scramble this last week a lot of its bits have sadly (and expensively) been replaced as a result of one item failing....

There had been a hairline crack in the left hand crank fist spotted on a monstrous cllimb in the Royal National Park, Sydney when the bike was on hols in Australia last summer. It didn't get worse and I forgot about it, until the crank snapped spectacularly in Bourton-on-the-Water last Sunday, requiring me to be rescued for the first time in 45,000 miles (thanks Neal, I still owe you the petrol money, as I'm sure you will have remembered).

Replacing the crank really meant replacing the whole chainset as "they don't make 'em like that anymore squire". However, I could no longer have a double chainset as "they don't make that low gearing on the rear wheel freewheel anymore, sir" so I'd have to have a triple front chainset with a 3rd small ring (£100). It is also required a new, larger bottom bracket (£15), a new rear freewheel (£16) and a new chain (£10).

"Ah, but you'll also need a 3-speed mech to handle the triple chainrings, sir"....so I bought one (£26).

Took it all to the favourite bike shop to have it fitted, only to be phoned later in the day - "You've got the wrong mech - its for a mountain bike not a road bike, you've only got a 2-speed changer not a 3-speed one, and we can't get the cabling to work because the frame is so old it hasn't got the right lugs. Please come and collect your bits, I'm afraid you're doomed, Sir. Get a new bike".

Four days to departure and a box of bits. When the going gets tough the tough get on the internet. Located and ordered a new pair of front (3 speed) changers (sadly they don't come singly) (£86, v.good price) and another new front mech (£25), plus a rush-to-me-next-day delivery charge I'm too embarrassed to disclose.

New kit arrived Wed, late-late bike-rebuild session Wed night only to find new front mech doesn't have cable stop anymore so still won't work. On the phone to previously favourite bike shop first thing Thu, only to be told "We don't have bolt-on cable stops anymore, can't get 'em, you're doomed, Sir. Get a new bike".

Get on internet again where locate picture and details of required part on vintage-cycle website. Print off and ask secretary Alison (who is just beginning to find out what being my secretary really means) to phone all bike shops in Swindon to find one. Bingo! and within walking distance. Purchase item (£7) plus bolt-on downtube gear adjusters (£9) which previous least-liked bike shop said didn't exist.

Assembly completed late Thu with limited systems testing in dark at midnight wobbling 200 yds down road and back. Planned 15 mile full user acceptance test for Fri evening, but cancelled due to wet weather and clean bike. So final testing performed "live" whist cycling to station (totally out of character and against all professional instincts). So far it all works (after a sum total of £284 it should do). You know what? I could have bought a new bike for just a bit more (but you can't buy history).

So bike with new bits was retrieved from the guard's van at Penzance and was pointed west in the direction of Lands End. The 10 miles on a busy A30 into a blustery wind were not enjoyable and it felt like ages before arriving at the starting line I left 4 years ago.

Took obligatory picture (see enclosed "been here done this" shot of bike at Lands End sign showing off itts new bits ), along with caramel cake and coffee to boost morale. Then headed off for the 30 miles to the refuge for the night. Slightly strange retracing route from 4 years ago, lots of deja vu, amazing what comes flooding back. Also amazing how the hills have become a bit steeper and increased in number - all down to continents colliding I expect.

Sun came out, got very muggy, had to work harder than expected, and was pleased with new lower gears. Had only 1 chain-off situation, but it had to be on the mother of all climbs of course.

The last couple of hours of the ride were accompanied by the Live-8 concert in perfect stereo. Annie Lennox was outstanding, and her rendition of "Why?" was a perfect accompaniment as I grunted my way up a brute of a climb, sweat glistening on the arms in the evening sunshine - I was asking myself the same question. Keane were also a perfect fit, with their lead singer noisily grabbing lungful's of air - obviously a practising cyclist. By sacrificing an evening meal in a pub for fish'n'chips I was able to watch the Floyd - still immaculate , and the finale. Sir Bob will be pleased.

Finally emerged onto A39 looking for B&B following excellent map provided by Alison. Turned right at mini roundabout having spotted some houses which looked likely suspects. Having stopped and reviewed photo it didn't match any houses, at which point my phone rang and a voice said "We're behind you !". Wow, beats satellite navigation.

Thes B&B was brilliant, both in running me down to the chippy and tumble drying the washing (thereby delaying the first appearance of the "flying washing line"). They were also v.nice people and he rides a motorbike (advertisement: Sunnyside, Four Cross, Penryn).

Tomorrow's ride to Dartmoor looks the toughest of the trip.

The B&B

Next Page: Day 1